Engineering Help Appreciated for WC setup

I finally started the new case I've been talking about for so long. I got the metal on Wednesday, and since then have practiced welding, and started on the frame.

The metal I'm using is 304 stainless square tube, .75"x.75", ~.012 thick. The idea is to use the frame as a resivor and dirstibution header. So far I have welded two 22" square side sections separately.

Edit: I assume you've all seen that big image enough by now.
http://members.lycos.co.uk/zackbass1/Frame.jpg

The bottom sections are placed in the picture to show how they will be connected, but have not been welded.

The question I pose is, what would be the best way to make use of the frame as part of the cooling system? All suggestions (even if they don't sound doable) are appreciated.

That's a pretty trick idea to use the frame as a resevoir. Keep us posted. I can't wait to see how it turns out. :cool:

I'd just use bungs for everything. Get some 3/4 round stock. Drill it and tap it. Drill a hole in the square tubing and weld the bung in place. Then get some pipe to barb adapters and you're set.

You could probably make one side the pressure side and the other square side the return, but that may not work out right.

Is that a miller welder there? We're considering getting their econotig

Yeah, that's the Econotig. It works well for just about everything I can throw at it. The only problem I have ever had is when I try welding thick aluminum, I just can't get enough heat to the weld. For anything besdies that it works absolutely great.

That is an incredible idea. :D
The only thing I would possibly suggest is to make the panels for the case out of aluminium (Or copper if you are that way inclined) and possibly use some thermal compound when fixing them to the steel frame. That way you should get better cooling without having to weld any aluminium. (Is it possible to build the frame out of copper instead?).

Hope there is something of use to you there. :p

Well, remember that he's making the case the resoviour, not the radiator. So making it out of aluminum isn't really needed. Now, in integrated resoviour AND radiator would be some pretty slick stuff :)

i am sure that you already thought of this, but make sure that the case will stand being moved. i have a tendency to forget the littel things like bracing and have my stuff break

(100lb speaker box, no braces.....stupid)

Do you mean like falling over? For that I'll probably stick some outward feet on it if it's unstable. As for fragility, it took a lot force to even bend one practice weld (30 pound hammer with all the force I coud get with a full swing), and after that it was still watertight.

Canyone think of a way to possibly work the frame into a resivor/(effective) radiator role? The stainless doesn't counduct heat well, I can weld a piece and pick it up a few inches from the weld with bare hands, but there has to be a way.

having the frame filled with the water is a good idea

it will distribute the heat over the case panels and cool more

That's a great idea. I don't see how you could make it hold the radiator.

I command this thread to return from the grave!

I finally got to working on my new case some more. I got the frame welded together and it's pretty straight. I cut up the metal for the HDD brackets, drilled holes in them and welded them to the frame. I got the PSU mounted which turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would be.

I've been keeping a journal of the work I'm doing. It has a lot of pictures embedded so dialup beware. I reccomend taking a look at the pics if you are interested, I finally got some pretty good ones.
http://members.lycos.co.uk/zackbass1/Case%20Log.txt

Edit: fixed the URL

Great work. Reinforce those HDD holders some more tho. \

BTW...in the pic on the top of this thread, what car is that?!?! A 50's Buick maybe?

It looks like an old Beetle to me :)

Looks like it's coming together nicely, although I'm hesitant about the final weight of the case :eek:

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Originally posted by Colossus
It looks like an old Beetle to me :)

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Can't be, if my eyes arent deciving me the tailight is raised off the read wheel wing, and the bettles had a tailight that was of a trianglular shape but flush to the wing. Once again, thats if that thing is a tailight :D

But the older beetles had a raised braking light... Not sure what model but I do see them rarely around here in SoCal.. But I would like to know what kind of car that is :)

Or even a better picture of it :P

You're all wrong on the car, it's a Hot Rod '34 Ford 5-window coupe. It's not mine, it's my father's, but I do much of the work in it. Here's 2 pics:

http://members.lycos.co.uk/zackbass1/car-racing.jpeg
http://members.lycos.co.uk/zackbass1/car-2girls.jpeg


About the weight of the case. By the time I'm done with all the hardware installed I'm guessing somewhere around 40 pounds. "Wet" weight will probably be closer to 50. You'll have to be pretty strong to get away stealing this computer!

I do plan on reinforceing the HDD brackets, but for aesthetic value. As it stand EACH bracket could probably take 30 pounds on it.

Edit: Fixed URLs

Awsome car, we were both wrong Colossus! In the second picture to the right, there is a Lambo Countach! Kewl.

NIce HDD brackets :)

I dont mind being wrong there :)

Its a nice car!

That's really some nice work that you are doing with that case. Oh, and I like how you just brought this thread back from the past.:D

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Originally posted by number1sixerfan
That's really some nice work that you are doing with that case. Oh, and I like how you just brought this thread back from the past.:D

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Oh yea, that takes guts, and the mods didnt even say anything! :p :D

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Originally posted by Soldier_Of_Evil

Oh yea, that takes guts, and the mods didnt even say anything! :p :D

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Keep it down, we don't want to alert them to our presence!

I hope to get a heatercore soon and I might start to cut and weld the parts for the mobo holder this afternoon. Thank god for good Friday (now THAT doesn't sound right!).

Quote:

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Originally posted by zackbass


Keep it down, we don't want to alert them to our presence!

I hope to get a heatercore soon and I might start to cut and weld the parts for the mobo holder this afternoon. Thank god for good Friday (now THAT doesn't sound right!).

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Hey why dont you try an oil cooler? I heard those are AWSOME but expensive...look around for one!

http://www.overclockers.com/articles389 Heres the link...

I'll look into that, It shouldn't be too hard to find one or get one from the local speed shop. Just don't try to tell me to use an evaporative cooler. :D

Quote:

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Originally posted by zackbass
I'll look into that, It shouldn't be too hard to find one or get one from the local speed shop. Just don't try to tell me to use an evaporative cooler. :D

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Well now that you mention it....Prometia II is coming out :D :p